Heat test last night

[littlebitfarm]

And I passed!! One of the guys at work lost his electric 2 days ago. The wood stove isn't beginning to keep his house warm. Same wood stove I used to have, so I don't understand why it isn't doing a better job. I got rid of the wood stove several years ago, just too much work on top of livestock, life needed to get easier, so it is gone. I replaced it with a propane stove. Looks similar to this: http://www.amazon.com/Empire-VFP30CA...ast+iron+stove

Yesterday, after chores I turned my furnace off. House was at 65º. Outside was 11º and the wind was HOWLING. Turned the propane stove on as low as it goes. Living room was toasty all evening. Kitchen temperature had crept up to 68º. No worry about freezing without power here! I could have turned the stove up to about twice as much heat.

Last year I spent $300 on propane for cooking, heating, and hot water. Can't cut wood for that price!

Kathie

[Missy M]

That's great that you can get propane that cheap. I acutually heat with wood for the same reasons you switched to the propane stove. It's interesting to see how each part of the country is so different. I spend abot 100.00 a year to heat my house with wood - of course we cut our own. Heat with a soapstone and today it's 15 degrees and the house is 75 degrees. I also have cooktops to save on propane for cooking.

Awsome for you- I'm glad you can save on expense and be warm with no electric - I'm right with you!!

[mamita]

any heat without electric is GOOD to me. if someone isn't warm using a wood stove, well then.........I can't imagine what they are doing wrong! whatever you choose...being warm without electric power is always a good thing.

[Helena]

Does he know how to work a wood stove..sounds dumb to say that but..you do have to "know" your stove. Perhaps you could check on him and give him some advice. Is he using "good" wood..it is surprising what you learn about wood and stoves over the years. We heat entirely with wood and can heat us out of the house if we wanted too.

[littlebitfarm]

Originally Posted by Helena

Does he know how to work a wood stove..sounds dumb to say that but..you do have to "know" your stove. Perhaps you could check on him and give him some advice. Is he using "good" wood..it is surprising what you learn about wood and stoves over the years. We heat entirely with wood and can heat us out of the house if we wanted too.

That is exactly what I was thinking. I am not one he will listen to, so I don't even try.

Kathie

[farmrbrown]

Originally Posted by Missy M

That's great that you can get propane that cheap. I acutually heat with wood for the same reasons you switched to the propane stove. It's interesting to see how each part of the country is so different. I spend abot 100.00 a year to heat my house with wood - of course we cut our own. Heat with a soapstone and today it's 15 degrees and the house is 75 degrees. I also have cooktops to save on propane for cooking.

Awsome for you- I'm glad you can save on expense and be warm with no electric - I'm right with you!!

Same here.
I've already seen the savings in my electric bill since October, compared with last year's bill. I already had a chainsaw and plenty of downed trees, so not much cost there.
My propane heater was great, but at over $3 a gal., it was a deal breaker.
Besides, I CAN cook a mean breakfast/lunch/dinner on one when the power goes out.